Having PCOS and pregnancy for a woman is possible simultaneously with significant complications and high risks of miscarriage and premature childbirth. If you have PCOS, you might struggle to get pregnant. Fortunately, you can deal with this problem by maintaining a healthy diet plan, infertility treatments, and proper checkups with your healthcare.
PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. It is a common condition in women. When you have PCOS and pregnancy at the same time, you may have high chances of miscarriages because Women with PCOS may have high levels of androgen (a male-type hormone in the female at a deficient level ), problems with ovulation, and multiple cysts in ovaries.
Some significant symptoms that indicate that you have PCOS include Irregular Menstrual cycle Cysts in ovaries, Facial acne, Weight gain, depression, and anxietyFacial hair growth, Scalp hair loss, and Insulin resistance.
If you have these symptoms, you should get a health checkup to overcome this problem.
Pregnancy and PCOS
Women with PCOS have an underproduction of estrogen and an overproduction of androgen ( male hormones), which is the cause of cysts in the ovaries of women. If you have PCOS, you may have Irregular periods because your ovaries don’t ovulate properly. A mature egg is supposed to be released monthly from an ovary called ovulation.
Getting pregnant with PCOS is difficult for women. That is because of hormonal disorders. As ovulation is a vital part of getting pregnant, an Irregular cycle can complicate things. Some women become exhausted with PCOS and pregnancy because they have mood swings and sometimes depression and anxiety. You must have a moderate weight, balance your blood sugar levels, and treat other PCOS symptoms with healthy lifestyle changes and medications to handle these problems.
How does PCOS affect pregnancy?
Sometimes, fertility medications alone will help you get pregnant. If that doesn’t work, you may need IVF treatment.
The two main complications associated with PCOS are an increased risk for a miscarriage in early pregnancy and gestational diabetes.
For women with PCOS who are overweight or obese, a modest weight loss sometimes results in more regular ovulation, increasing pregnancy chances. For those who know they ovulate, having intercourse during the “fertile window” (the five days leading up to and including ovulation) boosts the chance of conception.
If you have PCOS, you may still expect to conceive within a year (or even less) if you are ovulating normally and have no other risk for infertility. If you do, it may take longer and require the input of a specialist.
How do I know I am fertile for pregnancy?
If your menstrual cycle lasts 28 days and your period arrives, you’ll likely ovulate on day 14. That’s halfway through your process. Your fertile window begins on day 10. You are more likely to get pregnant when you have intercourse at least every other day between days 10 and 14 of a 28-day cycle.
Women suffering from PCOS while pregnant should avoid the following foods:
- Sugary drinks.
- Fried foods.
- Processed meats (sausages, hamburgers, and hot dogs)
- Refined Carbohydrates (., white bread, pasta, and pastries)
- Processed food (cakes, candy, sweetened yogurt, ice creams with excess sugar)
Suppose you are taking a PCOS supplement to improve your fertility. In that case, combining Myo-inositol and alpha-lactalbumin is crucial as it is proven to restore ovulation in 95% of PCOS women. In addition, for women trying to conceive, folic acid is a must.
How do I know if my ovaries release an egg?
Your cervical mucus – you may notice wetter, more transparent, and more slippery mucus around the time of ovulation. Your body temperature – there’s a slight rise in body temperature after ovulation, which you may be able to detect with a thermometer.
What is preeclampsia?
A sudden increase in blood pressure after 20 weeks of pregnancy could affect the kidneys, liver, and brain. If left untreated, preeclampsia may turn into eclampsia. Eclampsia causes organ damage, seizures, and even death. The primary treatment for this condition is delivery, even preterm, if necessary. Pregnant women with preeclampsia can require a C-section delivery, which may carry additional risks for both mother and baby. Learn more about preeclampsia.
Conclusion
PCOS and pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of GDM, preeclampsia, PIH, preterm delivery, cesarean delivery, miscarriage, hypoglycemia, and perinatal death. Pregnancy complications for PCOS include miscarriage or an early loss of pregnancy. Metformin can reduce the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women with PCOS. You may take some precautions to have a healthy pregnancy with PCOS, such as eating protein-rich foods that can help stabilize blood sugar levels. Also, it’s important to eat a healthy diet with lots of fiber, whole grains, and fewer carbs and to stay away from caffeine, tobacco, and alcoholic drinks.